Prayut Orders Strengthening of Lese Majeste Law in Thailand

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BANGKOK-Prime MinisterPrayut Chan-o-cha has ordered that the highly controversal Thai LeseMajeste Law (112) undergo an overhaul to make it easier for authorities to proceed with legal action.

According to Justice Minister General Paiboon Koomchaya, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) and the investigation unit specializing in the criminal code 112, have studied the procedures and content of the lese majeste law on the instruction of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, to have it improved.

Relevant agencies have been invited to join a meeting on January 9th to determine how the law can be adjusted. Three working groups are to be set up and tasked with responsibilities which include bringing an individual charged with lese majeste back to Thailand, monitoring online content and promoting a correct understanding of the law in the global community, to show that the law does not serve political purposes.

General Paiboon said obstacles in the legal procedure would be identified and foreign countries would be coordinated after those accused of the crime reportedly started their own movement in a neighboring nation.

Meanwhile, Thai historian Pipat Krachaechan has been summoned by police for organising an academic forum that allegedly insulted two dead Thai kings.

Police summoned Pipat Krachaechan, who teaches history at Thammasat University, to Chanasongkram Police Station today to testify on the lese majeste (insulting the monarchy) charge that has been filed against a panelist who spoke at his forum on 5 October 2014. Read More here..